Stuart cruised in at 15:58, just four seconds behind winner Daniel Richards, of Broadway.

“I am ecstatic and very proud that I broke the 16-minute mark,” stated Robertson. “My next goal is to place in the top 10 at States.”

It was difficult to tell if Robertson was happier for himself or for teammate Barrett. “I am really glad he made it to States,” declared Robertson. “It will be different going to States with a teammate who will also be competing.”

Last year, Robertson brought along a teammate, but that was only for support and company.

“It’s been 11, or so years since we last had a dominant boy,” said Staunton River’s Joe Curcio. “We felt that Stuart had a real shot at winning the meet.”

Meanwhile, Jefferson Forest Head Coach Jerome Loy was thrilled with his team’s performance.

“A 2-3-4 finish by the girls is pretty darn impressive,” said Loy of Schimmoeller, Hannah Owen and Mary Deis. “The best in the last nine years.”

These JF teams are all about the depth.

The sheer size of the team is pretty impressive. When you realize that they can all put up solid times, you shake your head.

According to Loy, his eleventh-best boy actually finished in fourth place at a meet about a month ago.

That’s deep.

The other thing that is remarkable about the JF team is that many of the top performers have other sports in which they excel.

For instance, Deis is an excellent swimmer; Tyler Bullock is a ringer in soccer; Anna Carter is a hoopster and a soccer player.

Justin Resendes, who finished in ninth, was the top finisher for JF. His specialty in track is the 880. Here he is, turning in a top-ten performance at a significantly longer distance.

If you think there’s a chance that JF will let the foot off the gas pedal, think again.

The girls’ pre-race chant went: “One, two, three...FOUR!”

That chant was to note the team’s target of a fourth straight regional crown.